Enhanced caller identification using caller readable devices

ABSTRACT

Described are a method and system for providing enhanced caller information to a communications recipient. Enhanced caller information is determined from a caller information storage device associated with a caller attempting to establish a communications session with the communications recipient. The enhanced caller information is transmitted to the communications recipient and presented prior to the establishment of the communications session. The presentation can include the display of text, graphical information and audible information to the communications recipient. Optionally, the enhanced caller information includes data used to establish a communications link between the caller and the communications recipient.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to communication networks. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus forproviding enhanced caller information to a call recipient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For years individuals have been disrupted by unwanted or untimelycommunications. For example, an employee focused on important work canbe interrupted by an unwanted telephone call. Similarly, individuals athome can be disturbed by telephone calls. In another example, anemployee working at a computer terminal in the office to complete a taskwith an imminent deadline can be interrupted with invitations for chator other forms of instant messaging. In any of these cases, theindividual can respond to the incoming communication only to discoverthat the communication is of low importance. Alternatively, theindividual can ignore the communication and risk missing a communicationthat relates to an important client, an important event or an emergency.

Caller identification (ID) equipment, including caller ID enabledphones, has become prevalent in recent years. Caller ID generally alertsthe recipient of a phone call to the phone number of the caller. In someinstances, caller ID equipment provides the name of the callerregistered or otherwise associated with the caller's number. Thus therecipient can make an informed decision as to whether to answer theincoming call.

Caller ID information is generally limited to the telephone number ofthe originating phone (i.e., the phone placing the call) and anassociated name. Because the originating phone may be available to morethan one user, the recipient of the phone call does not necessarily knowwho is placing the call. In other instances, simply knowing the numberand the name of the caller may not be sufficient to determine whether torespond or how to respond to the call. For example, a business personengaged in an important task may not want to respond to a call unless itis from an important customer. In another example, a business person maywant to have ready access to detailed information about a caller tobetter interact with the caller, especially if the caller is animportant customer or a potential customer. Moreover, these problemsextend to other forms of communications, such as online communications,in which only limited information about an originating device isavailable at a receiving device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention features a method for providing enhancedcaller information to a communications recipient. Enhanced callerinformation is determined from a caller information storage deviceassociated with a caller attempting to establish a communicationssession with the communications recipient. The enhanced callerinformation is transmitted to the communications recipient and presentedto the communications recipient prior to the establishment of thecommunications session.

In another aspect, the invention features a communications system forproviding a communications recipient with enhanced caller information.The communications system includes a caller information storage device,a caller information reader, an information insertion module and acaller information presentation module. The caller information storagedevice stores enhanced caller information intended for transmission tothe communications recipient. The caller information reader determinesthe enhanced caller information stored on the caller information storagedevice. The information insertion module communicates with the callerinformation reader and inserts the enhanced caller information intocommunications data transmitted to the communications recipient over acommunications link. The caller information presentation modulecommunicates with the caller information reader over the communicationslink. The caller information presentation module extracts the enhancedcaller information from the communications data and presents theenhanced caller information to the communications recipient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further advantages of this invention may be betterunderstood by referring to the following description in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate likestructural elements and features in the various figures. For clarity,not every element may be labeled in every figure. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a networked environment in which a methodfor providing enhanced caller information to a communications recipientaccording to the invention may be practiced.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of acommunications system for providing a communications recipient withenhanced caller information according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart representation of an embodiment of a method forproviding enhanced caller information to a communications recipientaccording to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the information insertion module34 of FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the information presentationmodule 38 of FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6A depicts a caller information storage device formatted as apersonal card according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6B depicts a caller information storage device formatted as acustomer interest card according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6C depicts a caller information storage device formatted as anevent card according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In brief overview the present invention relates to a method forproviding enhanced caller information to a communications recipient. Theenhanced caller information is stored on a caller information storagedevice and is read by an information reader. Enhanced caller informationcan include the name and telephone number of the caller, and includesother information relating to the person possessing the storage device,the person or entity that distributed the device to the possessor, orboth. An information presentation module presents the enhanced callerinformation to the intended communications recipient using, for example,a display and an audio output device. The information presentationmodule can filter the enhanced caller information according to apreferred presentation mode. Advantageously, the communicationsrecipient can have enhanced information regarding the caller or purposefor the communication before the communications session is established.

FIG. 1 illustrates a networked environment 10 in which enhanced callerinformation is provided to a communications recipient in accordance withan embodiment of the invention. A caller using an originatingcommunications device 14 desires to initiate a communications sessionover an intervening network 22 with a recipient using a recipientcommunication device 18. As used herein, the term “caller” refers to aperson, computer or device attempting to initiate the communicationssession and the term “recipient” refers to a person, computer or devicecapable of receiving communications data generated by the caller. Thecommunications session can be based on any of a variety of communicationprotocols, including standard landline and wireless communicationprotocols, text chat or instant messaging (IM), and video conferencing.

The originating communications device 14 can be a telephone, a cellulartelephone, a computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or the likethat is capable of transmitting communications data over the network 22.Similarly, the recipient communications device 18 can be a telephone, acellular telephone, a computer, a PDA or the like that is capable ofreceiving the communications data from the network 22 and presenting thecommunications data to the recipient. The network 22 can include anyconfiguration of communications elements for transmitting communicationsdata between the originating communications device 14 and the recipientcommunications device 18. For example, the network 22 can be theInternet, a local area network (LAN), a wireless telephone network, alandline telephone network, or a combination of subnetworks of differenttypes.

According to the illustrated embodiment, enhanced caller informationdata are read from a caller information storage device 26 associatedwith the caller. In other embodiments, enhanced caller information dataare read from two or more caller information storage devices 26, each ofwhich may include at least partially redundant data. The callerinformation storage device 26 can be any device adapted to store datathat can be read by a caller information reader 30. For example, thecaller information storage device 26 can be a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) device having non-volatile memory; a card, tag orthe like having optically readable data (i.e., optical media or printedmatter (e.g., a barcode)); or any other type of data storage devicecapable of providing stored data to a reading device. The callerinformation reader 30 can be, for example, an RFID reader, an opticalscanner (e.g., a barcode reader), or the like. In one embodiment, thecaller information reader 30 includes an imaging system in communicationwith a processor. The imaging system generates an electronic image of animage (e.g., a two dimensional bar code) encoded with the enhancedcaller information data and displayed on the caller information storagedevice 26. The processor determines the enhanced caller information datafrom the electronic image. In another embodiment, the processor isomitted and the electronic image includes the enhanced callerinformation. In this embodiment, the enhanced caller information isdirectly printed on the caller information storage device 26. In anotherembodiment, the enhanced caller information includes an image of thecaller.

The enhanced caller information can include personal, business andfinancial information as described in more detail below. An informationinsertion module 34 in communication with the originating communicationdevice 14 and the caller information reader 30 inserts the enhancedcaller information data into a communications data stream fortransmission to the recipient over the network 22. An informationpresentation module 38 receives the communications data stream, extractsthe enhanced caller information data for presentation to the recipientthrough one or more user interfaces and passes the remainingcommunications data to the recipient communications device 18. Therecipient can use the enhanced caller information data for any of avariety of purposes such as determining whether to allow thecommunications session to be established (i.e., to “screen” the incomingcommunication) or to facilitate business transactions or personaldiscussions once the communications session is established.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a communications system 42 forproviding a communications recipient with enhanced caller information inaccordance with the invention and FIG. 3 shows a flowchartrepresentation of an embodiment of a method 200 for providing enhancedcaller information to a communications recipient according to theinvention. The communications system 42 includes a cellular telephone 50having an integrated insertion module 34 and RFID reader 54, aninformation presentation module 38 and a landline telephone 58. Thecellular telephone 50 and landline telephone 58 are capable ofestablishing a voice communications session over the intervening network22. The network 22 integrates wireless communications and landlinetelephone communications.

In the present example, the caller and the recipient are persons havinga business relationship. More specifically, the caller is a potentialcustomer who received an RFID information card 46 provided by therecipient and the recipient is a salesperson seeking to complete abusiness transaction with the caller. The RFID information card 46 canbe an active device that transmits information to the RFID reader 54without first receiving an interrogation signal from the RFID reader 54.Alternatively, the RFID card 46 can be a passive device that transmitsits information to the RFID reader 54 only after receiving aninterrogation signal.

Prior to exchanging the RFID card 46 with the potential customer, thesalesperson stores a variety of information on the card 46. The storedinformation can include general information such as a product type ormodel for which the potential customer expressed an interest in anearlier meeting. The stored information can also include specific datasuch as the nickname of the caller, the date and location of the earliermeeting, and other personal information which enables the salesperson toquickly recognize the caller and to facilitate a business interaction orpersonal discussion.

To establish the communications link between the caller and therecipient, the caller enters a telephone number using a keypad on thecellular telephone 50. The caller then positions the RFID card 46 nearthe RFID reader 54 so that the enhanced caller information data are read(step 210). In one embodiment, the enhanced caller information dataincludes a telephone number for the communications recipient which canbe used to automatically “dial” the salesperson without the need toenter the telephone number using the keypad. The information insertionmodule 34 merges (step 220) the enhanced caller information data withthe voice data and transmits (step 230) the combined data over thenetwork 22 to the communications recipient. Standard caller IDinformation can be added within the intervening network 22, for example,by equipment maintained by a telephone company. The informationpresentation module 38 extracts (step 240) the enhanced callerinformation data from the combined data and passes the voice data to thelandline telephone 58. Optionally, any standard caller ID informationcan also be extracted. The extracted enhanced caller information dataand any optional network caller information data are presented (step250) to the recipient through one or more output devices in theinformation presentation module 38. For example, the information can bepresented to the recipient as text in a text display 62, graphical data,still images or video on a graphical display unit 66, or as an audiblesignal (e.g., “spoken” information) through a speaker 70.

FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of an information insertionmodule 34 having a processor 74 and merge module 78 to combine enhancedcaller information data with the caller's voice data. Enhanced callerinformation data received at an input terminal 82 is combined with voicedata received at a second input terminal 86 and provided as a singledata stream at an output terminal 90 for transmission to the recipient.As illustrated, the enhanced caller information data is provided by twocaller information storage devices 26 (not shown), however, it should berecognized that the enhanced caller information can be read from anynumber of caller information storage devices 26 using one or moreinformation readers 30. If multiple caller information storage devices26 are read, the processor 74 can remove any redundant informationbefore transmission. The processor 74 can be programmed according toprogram data provided at a program input terminal 94. In an alternativeembodiment, the processor 74 can be programmed by a portion of the dataincluded in the enhanced caller information data. For example, theenhanced caller information data can include the telephone number of therecipient as described above and can also include instructions to enablethe processor to cause the cellular telephone 50 to “dial” the telephonenumber without use of the keypad.

FIG. 5 illustrates one example of an information presentation module 38that can be used to present the enhanced caller information to therecipient. The information presentation module 38 includes a processor102 in communication with various output devices including a textdisplay 62, a graphics display 66 and a speaker 70. Voice data, enhancedcaller information data and standard caller ID data are received at aninput terminal 106. The processor 102 extracts the total callerinformation (i.e., the enhanced caller information data and standardcaller ID data) and forwards it to one or more of the output devices.Voice data are passed by the processor 102 to an output terminal 110. Insome embodiments a signal conditioner in communication with theprocessor 102 and the output devices is used to transform the enhancedcaller information data into analog and/or digital signals of variousformats appropriate for the various output devices.

Program data received at a program terminal 114 is used to configure theprocessor 102 to implement the recipient's preferences for presentationof the enhanced caller information. Alternatively, the processor 102executes instructions stored in non-volatile memory. As an example, therecipient may wish to view all enhanced caller information in textformat and to prevent graphical output and audio output. In anotherexample, the recipient may wish to limit the presentation of enhancedcaller information to certain data fields such as the name andorganization of the caller. The processor 102 can be reconfigured at alater time to change the preferences for information presentation.

The information presentation module 38 can implement filters defined bythe recipient. Filters enable the presentation of enhanced callerinformation according to its content. Data are stored in predefinedfields to facilitate filtering. For example, the user can configure theinformation presentation module 38 to present enhanced callerinformation using all output devices if a data field indicates that theincoming call is from an external organization and to limit thepresentation of enhanced caller information to text for incoming callsfrom the recipient's organization.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C illustrate examples of caller information storagedevices formatted with different data fields. FIG. 6A shows a callerinformation storage device 122 formatted as a “personal card.” Personalcard devices 122 can be configured as read-only devices using astatically programmed memory (i.e., read-only memory (ROM) 134) forreduced cost. Devices 122 utilizing only ROMs 134 for data storage havedata written to them during the fabrication process and the informationis never changed. Information stored on the device 122 is similar toinformation typically included on a conventional business card such asthe name, title, organization and contact information of the personpossessing the device 122. Unlike a business card which includesinformation relative to the person distributing the card, the device 122includes information relating to the person receiving the device 122.

Optionally, the ROM 134 stores a program to perform one or more tasks.For example, the ROM 134 can store a program that causes telephonenumbers to be dial in a predetermined sequence. In another example, theprogram can cause the originating communication device 14 (e.g., cellphone) to play a tone, chimes, music, or brief audible message, or todisplay a graphical message or image to a user. In addition, the programmay provide access to voicemail, store a message, tone or music invoicemail or add the user to an instant messaging (IM) session with oneor more persons. Alternatively, the program can enable a user to executea control function in the communications device such as delete allvoicemail messages, forward voicemail messages to another user, downloada free program (e.g., a game that can be played on the communicationsdevice), browse a web page, and the like.

The device 122 can also include a non-volatile memory (e.g., randomaccess memory (RAM) 138) that permits data to be written to the device122 numerous times. Using a RAM 138, the device 122 can accumulate data.For example, if a building entry includes equipment for writing todevices 122, date and time data can be written to the device each timeits holder enters or exits the building. In effect, the device 122collects “cookies” indicating the presence or location of the device 122at various times.

Employers can distribute devices 122 to employees to facilitatecommunications in the workplace. Similarly, organizations can distributedevices 122 to their members to facilitate organizational communicationsand activities. Commercial vendors can utilize devices 122 to facilitatecommunications with customers and to enable promotional transactions.For example, a claim for a personalized customer award can beauthenticated using a device 122 that uniquely represents its holder.

FIG. 6B shows a caller information storage device 126 formatted as a“customer interest card” for distribution to a potential customer.Information on the device 126 includes the name, title, organization andcontact information of the potential customer. Also included isinformation designating one or more products for which the potentialcustomer has indicated an interest. This information can be obtained,for example, from a meeting, telephone call, customer survey or similarinteraction with the potential customer and stored on a single device126. Other information can be included, such as the name, organizationand contact information of the salesperson that met with the potentialcustomer or is assigned to assist the potential customer.

The device 126 is programmed with the potential customer information andthen provided to the potential customer during the later stage of ameeting or after conclusion of the meeting. Alternatively, the device126 can be forwarded to the potential customer, for example, by mail.Because devices 126 can be provided to a large number of potentialcustomers each having a variety of product interests, each device 126can include a card version number or sequence number to facilitatetracking. In another embodiment, information is written to a ROM 134 inthe device 126 during a manufacturing process prior to obtainingcustomer interest information. The salesperson maintains a supply ofdevices 126 each unique to a product type or model. Consequently, thesalesperson can immediately provide the appropriate version of thedevice 126 to the potential customer during the initial meeting withoutany delay caused by programming.

The device 126 can include one or more data fields used for filtering.For example, a salesperson programming the device 126 can enter acustomer rating value to indicate the importance of the potentialcustomer relative to other customers. The salesperson can program aninformation presentation module 38 to present the enhanced callerinformation data according to the customer rating value. In a furtherexample, enhanced caller information from a potential customer having acustomer rating value above a user defined threshold can be providedthrough an audible alert. In contrast, presentation of enhanced callerinformation from a potential customer having a low customer rating valuecan be restricted to a subset of the available enhanced callerinformation and can be limited to a low priority output device such as atext display.

A potential customer uses the device 126 when attempting to communicatewith the salesperson. If the communication is a telephone call receivedby an operator, the enhanced caller information can be observed toassist in routing the call to the proper salesperson. Advantageously,enhanced caller information presented to the salesperson allows thesalesperson to understand the potential customer's interest at thebeginning of a communication session without relying on memory of aprior interaction. Thus a more personal and efficient customerinteraction is possible.

FIG. 6C shows a caller information device 130 formatted as an “eventcard.” The device 130 includes specific information associated with theperson receiving the device 130 (i.e., the device holder) and caninclude a name, occupation, title, organization and contact informationobtained during an interaction between the person giving the device 130(i.e., the device donor) and the device holder. Optional genericinformation such as the name and contact information of the device donorand donor organization can be included. Specific information is uniqueto each device 130 and is caused to be stored (i.e., programmed) on thedevice 130 by the donor or organization distributing the device 130.Specific information can also include the name, location, date and timeof a meeting or event at which the parties met. The device 130preferably includes reprogrammable memory (e.g., RAM 138) to permit thespecific information to be added to generic information, such as thedonor's name and contact information, which is programmed at an earliertime. In one embodiment, the reprogrammable memory is an electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

Executable code can be included in the enhanced caller information dataof any of the information storage devices 122, 126, 130 described aboveto enable an originating communication device 14 to “dial” or otherwisedirectly initiate a communications session. Executable code can also beincluded to cause enhanced caller information to be presented at theinformation presentation module 38 in a preferred mode.

Information stored in caller information storage devices 122, 126, 130can be encrypted to prevent alteration and copying, and to ensure theprivacy of the stored information. The device donor maintains anencryption key for each device 122, 126 or 130 in the informationpresentation module 38. Alternatively, if the key is embedded in theenhanced caller information for each card, the corresponding “codebooks”used to decrypt are stored in the information presentation module 38.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tospecific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in theart that various changes in form and detail may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A method for providing enhanced caller information to acommunications recipient, the method comprising: determining theenhanced caller information from a caller information storage deviceassociated with a caller attempting to establish a communicationssession with the communications recipient, the enhanced callerinformation including at least one designation of a product of interestto the caller; merging the enhanced caller information withcommunications data from the caller as a communications data stream;transmitting the communications data stream to the communicationsrecipient over a communications network; extracting the enhanced callerinformation from the communications data stream after transmission overthe communications network; and presenting the extracted enhanced callerinformation, including each designation of a product of interest, to thecommunications recipient so that the communications recipient can useeach designation of a product of interest to facilitate selling eachproduct to the caller.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step ofpresenting comprises at least one of presenting text information,presenting graphical information and presenting audible information tothe communications recipient.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the stepof determining enhanced caller information comprises reading the callerinformation storage device using an RFID reader.
 4. The method of claim1 wherein the step of determining enhanced caller information comprisesreading the caller information storage device with an optical reader. 5.The method of claim 1 further comprising providing at least one of anaudible output and a graphical display to the caller in response toexecution of a program stored on the caller information storage device.6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining enhanced callerinformation comprises: obtaining an image of the caller informationstorage device; and processing the image to extract the enhanced callerinformation.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determiningenhanced caller information comprises determining enhanced callerinformation from a plurality of caller information storage devicesassociated with the caller.
 8. The method of claim 1 further comprisingestablishing a communication link between the caller and thecommunications recipient based on the enhanced caller information.
 9. Acommunications system for providing a communications recipient withenhanced caller information, comprising: a caller information storagedevice storing enhanced caller information intended for transmission tothe communications recipient, the enhanced caller information includingat least one designation of a product of interest to the caller; acaller information reader to determine the enhanced caller informationstored on the caller information storage device; an informationinsertion module in communication with the caller information reader,the information insertion module merging the enhanced caller informationinto a communications data stream for transmission to the communicationsrecipient over a communications network; and a caller informationpresentation module in communication with the caller information readerover the communications network, the caller information presentationmodule extracting the enhanced caller information from thecommunications data stream and presenting the extracted enhanced callerinformation to the communications recipient so that the communicationsrecipient can use each designation of a product of interest tofacilitate selling each product to the caller.
 10. The communicationssystem of claim 9 further comprising an originating communicationsdevice in communication with the information insertion module.
 11. Thecommunications system of claim 9 further comprising a recipientcommunications device in communication with the caller informationpresentation module.
 12. The communications system of claim 9 whereinthe caller information storage device comprises an RFID device.
 13. Thecommunications system of claim 9 wherein the caller information storagedevice comprises optical media.
 14. The communications system of claim 9wherein the caller information storage device comprises a reprogrammablememory.
 15. The communications system of claim 9 wherein the callerinformation storage device comprises a memory for storing a program forgenerating at least one of an audible output and a graphical display toa user.
 16. The communications system of claim 9 wherein the callerinformation reader comprises an RFID reader.
 17. The communicationssystem of claim 9 wherein the caller information reader comprises anoptical scanner.
 18. The communications system of claim 9 wherein thecaller information reader comprises: an imaging system to generate anelectronic image of the caller information storage device; and aprocessor in communication with the imaging system, the processorgenerating the enhanced caller information in response to at least aportion of the electronic image.
 19. The communications system of claim9 wherein the caller information storage device comprises data forinitiating a communications session.
 20. The communications system ofclaim 19 wherein the data for initiating a communications sessionincludes a telephone number.